The three-person EO-3 crew docked with Salyut 7 on 9 February, 1984, and entered the darkened station carrying flashlights. The cosmonauts commented on the burnt-metal odour of the drogue docking unit. By February 17, Salyut 7 was fully reactivated, and the cosmonauts had settled into a routine. Physician Oleg Atkov did household chores and monitored his own health and that of his colleagues, who conducted experiments.

Progress 19 docked with the station from February 22-March 31, 1984. It was followed by Soyuz T-11 on April 4-11, 1984. T-11 brought Indian cosmonaut. Rakesh Sharma to the station, who conducted an Earth observation program concentrating on India. He also did life sciences and materials processing experiments and became the first yoga practitioner in zero-G. On April 13, Soyuz T-11 was repositioned to the front port by rotating Salyut 7, freeing the aft port for Progress 20. The resupply craft was docked to the station from April 17-May 6, 1984.

Meanwhile the cosmonauts began the first phase of the Salyut 7 propulsion system repair. The propulsion systems of Progress spacecraft had filled in for the Salyut 7 propulsion system after its main oxidiser line ruptured in September 1983. Progress 20 delivered a special ladder for reaching the area of the damaged line. In addition, before launch the exterior of Progress 20's orbital module was fitted with a special extension with foot restraints, as well as with containers for 25 special tools. Kizim and Solovyov spent 4 hr, 15 min outside Salyut 7 on April 23. They attached the ladder and prepared the repair site.

On April 26 the cosmonauts cut through thermal insulation and the station's hull to reach the damaged plumbing. They installed a valve in the reserve propellant line before going back inside Salyut 7. The second EVA lasted about 5 hr. On April 29 they again returned to the repair site. They installed a new propellant line to bypass the damaged section in 2 hr, 45 min. During a fourth EVA, on May 4, Kizim and Solovyov installed a second bypass line and covered the opening in Salyut 7's side with thermal insulation. However, they were unable to complete repairs because they lacked tools to close the bypassed propellant line. The fourth EVA lasted 2 hr, 45 min.

Progress 21 was docked to the station from May 10-26, 1984. It delivered two 9 m2 solar array extensions, similar to those added by the Salyut 7 Principal Expedition 2 crew. Solovyov and Kizim added them in an EVA May 19 which lasted over 3 hr. During the EVA, Atkov remained inside Salyut 7. He rotated the array 180° to bring its other edge within reach of the spacewalkers, permitting them to attach the second panel without having to move their foot restraints and equipment. The handle used to operate the winch for raising the array broke, but the cosmonauts were able to complete the operation.

Progress 22 was docked to the station from May 30-July 15, 1984. It was followed by Soyuz T-12 on July 18-29, 1984. This brought the second Visiting Expedition to visit the EO-3s, which included veteran cosmonaut Vladimir Dzhanibekov, Buran shuttle program cosmonaut Igor Volk, and Svetlana Savitskaya. On July 25 Dzhanibekov and Savitskaya performed a 3 hr, 30 min EVA, during which they tested the URI multipurpose tool. They cut, welded, soldered, and coated metal samples. During the Pamirs' stay, the six cosmonauts aboard Salyut 7 also conducted Rezonans tests and collected station air samples.

Soyuz T-12 had delivered a pneumatic hand press. The tool was used during an August 8 EVA to crush both ends of the bypassed fuel line, sealing it. Solovyov and Kizim also collected a piece of a solar array for analysis. In spite of the repair, Salyut 7's main propulsion system was not used again to boost the station's orbit.

Progress 23 was docked to the station from August 16-26, 1984. Soyuz T-11 itself departed on October 2, 1984. In February 1985 the unoccupied Salyut 7 space station abruptly ceased communicating with the TsUP. On March 2 the Soviet newspaper Pravda printed the following announcement: "In view of the fact that the planned program of work on Salyut 7 has been fulfilled completely, at the present time the station has been deactivated and is continuing its flight in automatic mode".

KizimKizim, Leonid Denisovich (1941-2010) Ukrainian pilot cosmonaut. Flew on Salyut 6 EO-5, Salyut 7 EO-3, Mir EO-1. Member of first crew to fly between two space stations during a single mission. 374 cumulative days in space. More...

Salyut 7 Due to cancellation of the Almaz military station, and delays in the Mir project, the decision was taken in the late 1970's to fly the back-up to DOS-5 / Salyut 6. This was launched as Salyut 7 in 1982. The opportunity was still taken to fly 'guest cosmonauts' from friendly countries on short visits to the stations, although emphasis was placed on military experiments. Salyut 7 was able to conduct significant military experiments thanks to the greatly increased volume and payload of the TKS modules diverted from the Almaz programme that docked with the station. More...